How are you all doing this week? My father's business manufactures microscopic electrodes and I was wondering if you have any suggestions for a camera with great macro capabilities that would be able to suit his needs. Here's his web site, for a few samples of the types of things he takes pictures of:
www.microprobes.com (http://www.microprobes.com)

* What will you generally use the camera for? Taking pictures of really really small things

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? Sometimes

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos? Yes

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos? No

Are there particular models you already have in mind? Open!

***Anything where we're able to use camera with ac adapter and/or rechargeable batteries would be nice.

coldrain

06-29-2007, 02:54 AM

Most compact digital camera will let you get close enough for photos of that size, where you can crop the photo since the website does not need high resolution photos.

If you also want to make photos that can be AND very macro, AND have a higher resoltion, you should look into getting a DSLR.

A macro lens on a DSLR will get you the not all that spectacular 1:1 magnification. 1:1 means that with for instance a Canon XTi/400D, with a 22mm wide sensor, you can get an object of 22mm wide (or a bit less than 1 inch) to fill the photo.

There is one macro lens that is perfect for the job, though. You will probably need to also get a focus rail, because focussing at higher magnifications is HARD to say the least.

It is the Canon MP-E 65mm f2.8 1-5x macro lens.
It allows for magnifications of 1:1 to 1:5. This lens is the king of macro photography. It is not cheap at something around $800, but it is an exceptional lens.
So, a Canon EOS 400D/XTi with this MP-E 65mm f2.8 1-5x would be the best solution for great photos of the very macro parts of the business of your father.
This lens would allow them to also have poster size macro photos, for instance.

Another option would be to add a Zork Macroscope Type I to a 100mm lens, giving an 2.2:1 macro ability, without the optical downgrade you usually see with macro "filter" lenses you add onto a lens.
But with you having to buy a 100mm lens (like a Canon 100mm f2, or Canon 100mm f2.8 1:1 macro) the price difference to the Canon MP-E 65mm is not all that big.

2. A DSLR with 100mm lens and a add-on lens like the Zork Macroscope for magnification upto 2.2:1 (less than half and inch, or 12mm, to fill the frame).
Zork macroscope:
http://www.zoerk.de/nv06-mac.html

3. A Canon XTi/400D with Canon MP-E 65mm f2.8 1-5x macro, for upto 5:1 magnification (you will benifit from also getting a focus rail, also for the "zork" solution by the way), getting 4mm to fill the frame at maximum magnification.
Canon MP-E 65mm f2.8:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=155&modelid=7325